Food waste disposer interlock device

Abstract

An interlock device coupled to a magnetically activated switch when the interlock device is removably seated in a sink flange coupled to a food waste disposer, comprising: a base having interlock device magnets, a recessed seat having drain holes, a helical cam, a strainer basket adjoined to a rotatably mounted spindle having a handle adjoined thereto, opposing nubs, which travel within the helical cam, when the handle is twisted, a spindle mounted seal adapted to block flow through the interlock device, when the spindle mounted seal is releasably seated in the recessed seat, and allowing fluid to flow through the interlock device, when the spindle mounted seal is releasably unseated from the recessed seat; the interlock device activating the food waste disposer when the interlock device is removably seated in the sink flange and one of the interlock device magnets is adjacent a switch magnet of the magnetically activated switch.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having:
 an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, 
 an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a first disk therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall,
 said first disk having:
 a lower central hub, 
 an upper surface, 
 a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, 
 a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining a plurality of drain holes therebetween, 
 said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having opposing grooves; 
 
 opposing food waste disposer activation magnets used to activate a food waste disposer, when said opposing food waste disposer activation magnets are coupled to said food waste disposer; 
 a strainer basket having:
 a second disk, 
 a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said second disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, 
 a lower shaft having lower opposing nubs, 
 an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said second disk, 
 a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said second disk, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface, 
  said lower opposing nubs travelling within said opposing grooves and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and 
  sandwiched between said first disk and said second disk when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The interlock device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cam comprises a locking helical cam, 
 said opposing grooves comprise opposing helical grooves. 
 
     
     
       3. The interlock device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said strainer comprises an arcuate shaped strainer, 
 said plurality of strainer holes comprises a plurality of radial strainer holes. 
 
     
     
       4. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having:
 an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, 
 an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a first disk therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall,
 said first disk having:
 a lower central hub, 
 an upper surface, 
 a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, 
 a plurality of drain holes, 
 said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having opposing grooves; 
 
 opposing food waste disposer activation magnets used to activate a food waste disposer, when said opposing food waste disposer activation magnets are coupled to said food waste disposer; 
 a strainer basket having:
 a second disk, 
 a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said second disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, 
 a lower shaft having opposing nubs, 
 an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said second disk, 
 a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said second disk, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface, 
  said opposing nubs travelling within said opposing grooves and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and 
  sandwiched between said first disk and said second disk when said opposing nubs are rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said opposing nubs are rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said opposing nubs are rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       5. The interlock device according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said cam comprises a helical cam, 
 said opposing grooves comprise opposing helical grooves. 
 
     
     
       6. The interlock device according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said first disk has:
 a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining said plurality of drain holes therebetween. 
 
 
     
     
       7. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having:
 an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, 
 an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a first disk therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall,
 said first disk having:
 a lower central hub, 
 an upper surface, 
 a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, 
 a plurality of drain holes, 
 said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having at least one groove; 
 
 at least one food waste disposer activation magnet used to activate a food waste disposer, when said at least one food waste disposer activation magnet is coupled to said food waste disposer; 
 a strainer basket having:
 a second disk, 
 a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said second disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, 
 a lower shaft having at least one nub, 
 an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said second disk, 
 a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said second disk, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface, 
  said at least one nub travelling within said at least one groove and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and 
  sandwiched between said first disk and said second disk when said at least one nub is rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said at least one nub is rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said first disk when said at least one nub is rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       8. The interlock device according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said cam comprises a helical cam, 
 said at least one groove comprises at least one helical groove. 
 
     
     
       9. The interlock device according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said first disk has:
 a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining said plurality of drain holes therebetween. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The interlock device according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said at least one food waste disposer activation magnet comprises at least one arcuate shaped food waste disposer activation magnet. 
 
     
     
       11. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having:
 an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, 
 an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a partition therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall,
 said partition having:
 a lower central hub, 
 an upper surface, 
 a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, 
 a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining a plurality of drain holes therebetween, 
 said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having opposing grooves; 
 
 opposing food waste disposer activation magnets used to activate a food waste disposer, when said opposing food waste disposer activation magnets are coupled to said food waste disposer; 
 a strainer basket having:
 a disk, 
 a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, 
 a lower shaft having lower opposing nubs, 
 an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said disk, 
 a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said disk, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface, 
  said lower opposing nubs travelling within said opposing grooves and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and 
  sandwiched between said partition and said disk when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said lower opposing nubs are rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       12. The interlock device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said cam comprises a locking helical cam, 
 said opposing grooves comprise opposing helical grooves. 
 
     
     
       13. The interlock device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said strainer comprises an arcuate shaped strainer, 
 said plurality of strainer holes comprises a plurality of radial strainer holes. 
 
     
     
       14. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having:
 an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, 
 an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a partition therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall,
 said partition having:
 a lower central hub, 
 an upper surface, 
 a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, 
 a plurality of drain holes, 
 said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having opposing grooves; 
 
 opposing food waste disposer activation magnets used to activate a food waste disposer, when said opposing food waste disposer activation magnets are coupled to said food waste disposer; 
 a strainer basket having:
 a disk, 
 a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, 
 a lower shaft having opposing nubs, 
 an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said disk, 
 a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said disk, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface, 
  said opposing nubs travelling within said opposing grooves and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and 
  sandwiched between said partition and said disk when said opposing nubs are rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said opposing nubs are rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said opposing nubs are rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       15. The interlock device according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said cam comprises a helical cam, 
 said opposing grooves comprise opposing helical grooves. 
 
     
     
       16. The interlock device according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said partition has:
 a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining said plurality of drain holes therebetween. 
 
 
     
     
       17. A food waste disposer interlock device, comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having:
 an interior cylindrical wall and an exterior cylindrical wall, 
 an upper cylindrical open chamber and a lower cylindrical open chamber having a partition therebetween which is adjoined to said interior cylindrical wall,
 said partition having:
 a lower central hub, 
 an upper surface, 
 a first bore having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate surface therebetween, 
 a plurality of drain holes, 
 said lower central hub having a second bore and a cam having at least one groove; 
 
 at least one food waste disposer activation magnet used to activate a food waste disposer, when said at least one food waste disposer activation magnet is coupled to said food waste disposer; 
 a strainer basket having:
 a disk, 
 a strainer contiguous with and surrounding said disk and having a plurality of strainer holes, 
 a lower shaft having at least one nub, 
 an upper handle fastened to said lower shaft and said disk, 
 a stepped disk shaped seal fastened to said lower shaft beneath said disk, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal having an upper disk shaped seal portion, a lower disk shaped seal portion, and a central disk shaped seal portion therebetween extending outwardly beyond said upper disk shaped seal portion and said lower disk shaped seal portion, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal adapted to seat on said upper surface and said intermediate surface, 
  said at least one nub travelling within said at least one groove and having a top of travel, a bottom of travel, and an intermediate position, when said upper handle is rotated, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal lowered, compressed, and 
  sandwiched between said partition and said disk when said at least one nub is rotated to said bottom of travel, which prevents fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said at least one nub is rotated to said top of travel, which allows fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device, 
  said stepped disk shaped seal raised above said partition when said at least one nub is rotated to said intermediate position, which allows partial fluid flow through said food waste disposer interlock device. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       18. The interlock device according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said cam comprises a helical cam, 
 said at least one groove comprises at least one helical groove. 
 
     
     
       19. The interlock device according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said partition has:
 a plurality of spokes adjoined to said lower central hub and said lower edge defining said plurality of drain holes therebetween. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The interlock device according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said at least one food waste disposer activation magnet comprises at least one arcuate shaped food waste disposer activation magnet.